I've been tasked with finding a new or used GPC instrument with an autosampler and a fraction collector for my lab. It's not my analysis, and I'm probably not going to be the one using it, but nonetheless the task is mine. The instrument will be used for cleanup of PCB and dioxin samples from various matrices (my bet is probably mostly for fatty or oily extracts, like animal tissues). We currently use a Waters 717 autosampler (with injection volume issues), a Waters 510 pump, a Waters 441 Absorbance Detector, a Waters Fraction Collector (no model number), and a PE Nelson 900-series interface.
I would like to know if anyone has any recommendations on instruments they've used in the past, or are currently using? Problems with past/current instruments? I've already got quote requests in to Waters, Agilent, and Shimadzu, but I'm betting the bosses will want me to scrounge around on LabX or eBay to find something at a low cost, but still better than we are currently using.